SHILLONG, JUNE 30: Villagers of sixteen villages in South West Khasi hills on Thursday demanded KHADC issue the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for construction of the much awaited two-lane Nongstoin-Mawthabah road but not for ‘mining of Uranium.
These villages’ residents under the banner of the Synjuk Ki Nongshongshnong Phlangdiloin Area (SNPA), formed last year, expressed apprehension that the road project may likely be cancelled by the centre due to the delay in issuing of the NOC.
The Synjuk also comprises of headmen of the different villages.
According to the SNPA, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highway (MRTH) had sanctioned a number of projects which include 68 km Nongstoin-Mawthabah road and 30km Wahkaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor road under SARDP-NE.
However despite work tender being floated since the past two years, the construction of the two important projects have been delayed due to non-issuing of the NOC by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC).
Addressing newsmen on Thursday, Synjuk chairman Christopher Lyngdoh said, “We demand the KHADC to immediately issue NOC to pave way for the speedy construction of the road projects in the region.”
He said the villagers fear that if there is further delay on the issue, the centre might change its mind and cancel the projects which will be to the huge disadvantage for the people.”
Stating that road is the backbone of development, he claimed that majority of the people in the different dorbar meetings supported the road projects. There are around 4000 people residing in the 16 villages.
Anti-uranium mining ngos have protested against the road project on the ground that as per RTI findings, the MRTH in its notification had said that the construction of road was to facilitate uranium mining.
When asked, he said, “We are for the road project and not for uranium mining and similarly it is expected of the KHADC to issue NOC for the road construction and not for mining of uranium,” adding “If there is any attempt to mine uranium, we will definitely protest as residents.”
On the other hand, one of the headmen claimed the work tender floated by the MRTH did not say that the road project is for uranium mining as it was alleged.
A landowner, Jeffry Dkhar informed that the survey for the road project was conducted by the government for land acquisition but compensation has not been released till now.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours